Geneva: Switzerland on Monday approved the modernum Covid-19 vaccine for young people between 12 and 17 years old, weeks after the EU regulator ratified the drug for the same age group.
The SwissMedic regulatory authority, which has approved Pfizer-Bontech Jab for more than 12, said the results of ongoing research showed modernum had 93 percent efficacy in a young age group.
“This vaccine produces a similar immune response …
in this study compared to young adults aged 18 to 25 years,” the regulator said.
Switzerland, who is not in the European Union, has its own regulatory process and is the first country in Europe Continent to start using Pfizer-Bontech Jab.
The state has distributed more than 9.1 million doses and nearly 49.2 percent of the population of 8.6 million is now fully vaccinated.
However, take-up has slowed in recent weeks.
Nearly 2.5 million doses were given in June but less than 1.4 million in July.
Viruses have killed 10,354 people in Switzerland and 723,907 positive tests have been registered.
Covid-19 modern jabs are used in 48 countries, behind AstraZeneca (161), Pfizer-Bontech (88) and Sinopharm (49), according to the number of AFP.